Price of criminal's mansion cut

The mansion of a jailed millionaire "thug" has had its price tag cut to under £1m in a bid to sell it.

Builder John Gizzi, from St Asaph in Denbighshire, is serving five-and-a-half years for grievous bodily harm.

A judge ruled he must pay £2.6m under a confiscation order or face an extra eight years in jail.

Gizzi's Bronwylfa Hall country home was earlier reduced in price from £1.75m to £1.3m, but now estate agents have further cut the price tag to £900,000.

Agents Strutt and Parker say they are now looking for "best and final offers" by the end of the month on the five-bedroom property with a tennis court and leisure complex set in 4.7 acres.

At the time of his trial in January 2006 Gizzi was described as a "thug" and "bully" who assaulted homeless people and preyed on the weak and vulnerable.

Criminal lifestyle

Mold Crown Court heard that Gizzi had evaded up to £750,000 in duty.

The criminal also asked for 22 offences of mortgage fraud involving almost £1.5m to be taken into consideration.

In March 2006, a judge found Gizzi had benefited by £6.89m from his criminal lifestyle.

The realisable assets, including Bronwylfa Hall and about 20 other properties, was estimated at £2.6m.

He was told he would have to repay the money within six months, or his jail sentence would automatically be increased.

On the market

Gizzi has already been given more time to pay the order which is based on his recoverable assets.

If Bronwylfa Hall is sold for less, then his legal team will ask the court for the original order to be reduced.

At the last hearing, a total of five of Gizzi's properties had been sold and the money handed over.

However, three smaller properties and his single largest asset, his own home, were still on the market.

At the time the original order was made under The Proceeds of Crime Act, police said it meant he would be penniless and homeless when he was released.

But when he is released and if he makes any money in the next six years, police can still go after Gizzi for a further £4m.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
North Wales Police
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites